Open Circumcision is a surgical procedure to remove the foreskin that covers and protects the tip of the penis. A male may undergo a circumcision procedure for religious, social, medical, or cultural reasons. This procedure is most commonly done in newborn baby boys.
Open circumcision is a daycare procedure where the patient can be discharged within 24 hours. The recovery after the surgery is generally quick and effortless.
Surgery Name |
Open Circumcision |
Disease Treated |
Phimosis, Paraphimosis, Balanitis, Balanitis xerotica obliterans |
Benefits of the Surgery |
Quick recovery rate, Causes no damage to the penis, Same day discharge, Reduced risks of penis conditions |
Treated by |
Urologist |
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What is Open Circumcision?
An Open Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin covering the tip of the penis. A male may undergo a circumcision procedure for religious, social, medical, or cultural reasons. This procedure is most commonly done in newborn baby boys.
Anatomy and Physiology of the Penis
The penis is a complex external organ used to urinate. It is also a part of the male reproductive system. It consists of several major structures:
- Glans: the head of the penis is the sensitive structure at the end of the corpus (shaft).
- Urethra: It is a tube inside the penis that runs from the bladder to the head of the penis. It is used for urination.
- Prepuce: also known as the foreskin, is a patch of skin that covers and protects the glans. Normally, when the penis gets hard the foreskin pulls back, and the tip is exposed.
The penis is well supplied with blood vessels, and the shaft that contains the urethra and three tissue columns is wrapped in a band of connective tissue called the fascia and covered with the skin.

Conditions treated with Open Circumcision
Open circumcision is carried out for several medical or non-medical reasons. Some of the medical conditions that are treated by open circumcision include:
- Phimosis: a condition where the foreskin is too tight to be pulled back over the head of the penis (glans).
- Balanitis: a condition where the foreskin and head of the penis become inflamed and infected.
- Paraphimosis: a condition where the foreskin can't be returned to its original position after being pulled back.
- Balanitis xerotica obliterans: a condition that causes phimosis and in some cases, also affects the glans causing inflammation.
- Cancer of the penis: this is a rare type of cancer where a red patch, wart-like growth or ulcer appears on the end of the penis or under the foreskin.
Who needs Open Circumcision?
Open circumcision is most commonly done in newborn baby boys. However, circumcision is also recommended for older boys or men to reduce the risk of certain penis conditions and sexually transmitted infections.
Know more about Open Circumcision
What to expect before and on the day of Open Circumcision?
The patient may expect the following before or on the day of the surgery.
Before Open Circumcision Surgery
A few days before surgery, the surgeon will schedule an appointment with the patient for the following:
- A complete physical check-up that also includes details about the patient's medical history.
- The surgeon will explain the circumcision procedure and the benefits and risks of performing the surgery.
- If the patient uses blood-thinning medications (e.g., aspirin), the doctor will ask the patient to stop taking those a few days before surgery.
- The patient or his/her relative will be asked to sign a consent form.
- The doctor will also discuss the medications that the patient currently uses. Patients should not forget to carry their routine medications during the pre-operative appointment.
- Dietary habits before surgery
- The patient should avoid eating food or drinking fluids after midnight or six hours before surgery. This also applies to children undergoing the surgery.
- If circumcision is scheduled for a newborn boy, the parents should feed the baby with formula milk six hours or breast milk four hours before surgery.
- If a child older than one year is scheduled for circumcision, do not feed him with solid foods (including chewing gum and candy) or liquids (e.g., milk, fruit juice, and formula) after midnight.
- Children (including infants) should have only clear liquids (water, apple juice, grape juice) up to two hours before surgery.
On the day of Open Circumcision surgery
Once the patient (adult male or newborn boy) arrives at the hospital on the day of surgery, the healthcare staff will direct the next procedures:
- The patient would be asked to sign an consent providing the approval to conduct the surgery.
- The patient will be requested to remove any jewellery, contact lenses, or objects from the body.
- The patient will also be asked to remove clothes and change them into a hospital gown.
- The healthcare staff will provide the patient with an identification bracelet.
- The healthcare staff will also record the patient's blood pressure, pulse rate, and blood pressure and then take the patient to the operating room.
Risks and complications of Open Circumcision
Open circumcision is a day-care procedure and is a safe procedure. As with any surgical procedure, some risks and complications are associated with the surgery. Some of the risks and complications of open circumcision are:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Reaction to anaesthesia
- Pain
- Cutting the foreskin too long or too short.
- Irritation on the tip of the penis.
- Meatitis (inflamed opening of the penis)
When is consultation with the doctor needed?
The patient can consult the doctor if the patient experiences any abnormal symptoms including:
- Heavy bleeding
- Infection
- Severe pain
- Irritation on the tip of the penis
Risks of delayed Open Circumcision
For non-medical reasons, delayed circumcision does not have any negative consequences. However, in case of medical reasons, delayed circumcision can lead to the progression of the underlying conditions, like:
- Untreated balanitis can lead to chronic (extended) inflammation (redness, soreness, and pain).
- Similarly, long-standing phimosis can lead to permanent scarring, causing the constriction of the foreskin. It may also lead to dyspareunia (painful intercourse) in patients with diabetes.